Rod machine and process



I5 Sheets-Sheet l mf d R 0 March l, 1955 G. E. SMART ROD MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed OCT'. 17, 1950 March l, 1955 G. E. SMART Ron MACHINE AND PROCESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 17, 1950 INVENTOR. GORDO/v E SMART March l, 1955 G. E. SMART ROD MACHINE AND PROCESS Filed Oct. 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q ODDO vv hm, vm. MWNM.

' the speed of making United States Patent C ROD MACHINE AND PROCESS.

Gordon E. Smart, Cleveland, Ohio Application October 17, 1950, Serial No. 190,484

7 Claims. (Cl. 29-547) The present invention relates to a method and machine for continuously forming and processing multi-length rod.

Many devices have been used in the-past for handling wire or multi-length rod in the various steps between the forming of the green rod and the completion of the manufactured article. Throughout the application when referring to rod or wire, it is understood that the terms are referred to somewhat synonymously and that it is generally understood in the trade that the difference between a rod and wire is primarily in the diameter. For small diameters, the term wire is used and for larger diameters, the term rod is used. Green rod or Wire has scale on the` surface which must be removed before theV rod or wire can be further processed or drawn. Hereinafter, the words wire or rod may be used interchangeably with the following references; namely, that any wire or rod referred to prior to entrance intomy machines or process areV green rods or wire having an oxide scale thereupon. Any wire, rod or rods, referred to which isa result of my machinery and process has been sized to a definite diameter and straightened and cut to a denite length asY required, with the oxide scale removed and in a formthat is ready for any use or any further coating or re-manufacture into smaller sized articles. The foliowing described machinery for, my process may be constructed of light or heavy material to accommodate any sized green rod manufactured by any rolling millv up to one-half inch in diameter. lt has always been a slow tedious and costly job to obtain the final formy of manufactured articles from the green rod or wire since the vscale wasl removed by acid baths or other processes after `which the wire had to be coiled and dried. If the wire was to be drawn, it had to be dipped in a lime solution and handled slowly; that is, the speeds up to a maximumI speed of around 300 feet a minute for a 3/16 of an inch diameter rod. This maximum speed is Very slow '1 andthe cost of the acids and lime used increasedthe cost of the hnished article tremendously, as well as the cost of dumping `waste products also nearly as much as the cost of the wire itself;

We have discovered that it is possible to handle the wirethrough a standard draw bench and form the finished article from the green rod at speeds of over 750 feet per minute for 7160i an inch diameter rod, thus, at least doubling the speed over prior methods. We furthermore do` not` require use of lime or acids, thus reducing the cost and eliminating the necessity of disposing of the waste.` The scale removed from the green rod is in a pure-scale or oxide form and is easily marketable to other industries which are having problems of obtaining oxide particles. Thus, my invention not only more than doubles articles but further provides oxide for the-market and eliminates expenses of costly acids and dumping of waste material.

With these thoughts in mind, one of the objects of my invention isto provide a machine and a process for continuously forming rods of a definite length from multilength green rods.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine and process for formingV articles from multi-length rod at a, high speed of production and with minimum cost.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate the need of using. lime, acids and other chemical products in the handling of wire or rods.

Another objectof the inventionA is to size a rod after it, has been heatedby bending, .then straightenl the sized 2,762,937 Patented Mar. 1, 1955 rice 2. rod and form the straightened rod into nished articles of specied lengths before it has cooled.

Another object of the invention isto provide a machine comprising a wirebending and scaling device with a Wire sizing device and a stralghtening device wherein the devices are synchronously driven in timed relationshi nother object ofthe invention is to provide a machine for maning finished articles of specied lengths from green multi-length rod which machinedoes not require the use of cleaning compositions for the rod.v

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring, to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of4 wire bending or descaling device illustrating a wire entering anl ordinary draw bench illustrated in phantom lines;

Figure 2 is an elevational View of the wire straightening device receiving wire from the draw table ofFigure l;

Figure 3 is a top view of the Wire bending and descaling` device of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is a top View of the wire straightening device of Figure 2.

ln the present invention, applicant is forming straight rods of a definite length such, for example, as .rods used in welding rods. These rods are formed directly from the green rod WithoutV the use oft lime, acids, or any other similar product. All of the partsvof the machines are run at speeds and in synchronizedrclationship at high speed whereby each succeeding part of the machine per.- forms its part on the wire before the wire has. cooled and lost heat developed in the preceding operation. In observing Figures l and 2 of the drawings, asa complete side elevational view of the entire machi11eit is noted that the wire travels from left to right. The wire or green rodl enters the machine at the left whereit is bent for scaling purposes and also for heating the green rod by the scaling device 10. After the green rod has been bent and scaled, it isl passed through thedraw `table 11, thence through the rod straightening device 12. The straightened rod is then cut to the denite length by the cutter 13 and these short definite lengths are deposited in a receptacle 14. Throughout this operation, the rod is heated. The original heating takesplace because of the bending in the bendingv device 1t). Before the wire or rod has a chance to cool, it isdrawn or otherwise sized by the sizing device or drawing. table 11. The draw table is a specific form of awire sizing machine and for purposes of description teaches one Way of sizing wire. After the wire has been sized, it. is run throughy the straightening rolls and cut oifbefore it has had4 a chance to cool. Thus, all operations on the Wire are performed after the green wire or rod has been heated by bending and before it has had a chance to cool.

Bending and scaling device sizing roll 13 is adjustable relative to the end sizing rolls.

l? and lig so that the axis of rotation of the sizing roll 18 maybe moved' to any position Withinor outside of the common plane of the axis of the end rolls. In viewing Figure 1, it is noted that the middle, sizing roll 18 is mounted on an axle Zwhich may b e lowered or raised and thereby adjustably moved along a curved, slot 22 in the supporting structure 16. Correct positioning of the axle 21 along this curvedV slot 22 positions the sizing roll' 1S so that it will bend a green rod the correct amount.

in the drawings, the rod is referred to by the numbers 2d, 25, Z6 and 27 respectively, in the denite parts of the machine for purposes of clear explanation. Although the green rod continuously enters the bending and scaling device 10 and is cut into linshed articles which are dropped into the receptacle or bin-14, the green rod in the bending and .scalin .device is-referred to by-the number 24 and the sized rod by. the number 25. 'ThesizedV rod is that rod which has left the bending and scaling' device and has passed through the sizing device 11. After the rod has been straightened by the straightening device 12, it is referred to by reference character 26 and the definite length of finished rod is referred to by reference character 27.

The multi-length elongated green rod 24 enters the bending and scaling device through alignment rolls 29 and 30. The alignment rolls 29 are supported on a horizontal axis of rotation and the alignment rolls 30 are supported on a vertical axis of rotation by the supporting structure 31 fastened to the bending and scaling device supporting structure 16. These alignment rolls 29 and 30 may be of any suitable design which will guide` the green rod properly onto the sizing roll 17. In this particular instance, it is noted that the green rod 24 is threaded over top of the sizing roll 17 under the sizing roll 18 and over top of the sizing roll 19. Thus, the degree of bending of the ,green rod 24 is dependent on the positioning along the slot 22 of the supporting structure 16 of the middle sizing roll 18. The end sizing roll 1 9 as is best illustrated in Figure 3 has a band of oppositelv disposed end facing brushes which biushes brush scale from the rod after it has been loosened by bending. The bending of the ,green rod loosens the scale, as well as h eatmg the rod, and the rod may then be termed a captive rod.

The sizing device 11 may be a draw table having a draw die of the type commonly used in drawing wire. .Since the draw table may be of this type, it has been illustrated in phantom in the drawings.

Straightening device The straightening device 12 is best illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.of the drawings. The purpose of the straightening device is to remove any tendencies of coilng from the r'od after it has been sized. The straightening device consists of a set of horizontal straightening rolls 35 and a set of vertical straightening rolls 36. The sizing machine 11 normallv contains a drawing block to draw the green rod through the sizing operation. Rod pulling or feeding rolls 37 are mounted directly in front of the horizontal sized rolls 35 to pull the straightening rod 25 from the sizing device 11 and take up the slack in the rod to feed it to the straightening device 12. These rod pulling rolls 37 as illustrated in Figure 4 may be driven by a motor 38 through suitable chain drive 39 and clutch and transmission arrangement 40. The clutch and transrnission arrangement 40 includes therein means for changing the speed of driving of the rolls to accommodate ad- )u stments in the speed of travel of the rod for different diameters and metallurgical compositions of rods.

In this particular instance. I have found it advisable to use a double set of rolls 37 backed by a common adiustable spring 41. These rolls 37 are carried by a common yoke 42 with one roll on each end thereof. The spring 41 is positioned in the middle of this yoke and cooperates therewith to provide an even friction between each roll and the rod 25 at spaced points along the rod. With this arrangement, a much greater pull may be applied to the rod without transforming the shape of the sized rod 25.

The horizontal straightening rolls 35 comprise a bed 44 rotatably supporting a plurality of spaced rolls 45, 46. 47, 48, and 49 on one side of the rod 26 being straightened larid a plurality of rolls 51, 52, 53. S4 and 55 on the other side of the rod being straightened. As is best illustrated in Figure 4, these rolls are alternately spaced with the Wire threaded therebetween. The spacing between the latter rolls is double or more the spacing between the first rolls engaged by the rod. The rolls 48, 49, 54, and 55 towards the end of the straightening device, are double spaced to maintain the rod or wire in straight formation at high speeds after the rod or wire has been straightened by the first rolls 45, 47 and 51, S3. The vertical straightening rolls 36 are similar to the horizontal straightening rolls 35 and operate similarly. After the rod has been straightened to form the straightening rod 26, it enters cut-off 13 where the finished pieces 27 of rod are continually cut from the end of the multi-length rod and deposited in the receptacle or bin 14. In the present instance, the cut-off 13 comprises a rotating drum 60 having axially movable knives 61 mounted in the circumferential edge thereof. The rotating drum 60 is bearingly supported on the structure of the straightening device 12 and is rotated by a drive shaft 62 geared thereto and driven by the main motor 38. A knob or cam 63 mounted on the supporting structure is engageable by the knives 61 on the rotating drum 60 to force them axially and through the straight rod 26 as it passes over the drum. These knives 61 thus cut perpendicularly through the straightened rod 26 while the rod is moving to form the definite length of short rods 27 which fall into the bin 14. Since the rotating drum 60 is driven from the shaft 62 which also drives the gears in the clutch and transmission assembly 40 by means of the main motor 38, the cut-off operates in timed sequence With other parts of the machine. The straightened rod is cut-olf before it has had a chance to cool and before it has been removed from the machine.

Throughout the machine and in using this process, it is noted that the machine must be run at a speed wherein the rod moves continuously and is handled while it is warm with each operation taking place before the rod has had a chance to cool or lose its heat resulting from the previous operation. lt is noted that since the rod is pulled through the sizing device at this great speed, the bending and scaling device 1t) effectively causes a back draw on the rod, thus tending to stretch the rod as it enters the sizing device to cause less friction in the sizing device. Rod stretches and fiows easier when it is heated. If the rod is taken directly from the bending operation to the draw table and is drawn before it has had a chance to cool, the rod will flow through a die in the draw table and will not pile up. Similarly, through the other parts of the machine, the rod handles better and results in completed articles being formed continuously from a green rod. We have found, for example, that pulling the rod through the machine described herein at a speed of at least 750 feet per minute for 3716 of an inch rod causes the i'od to move into the correct places before it has cooled.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for use with a green metal wire or rod adapted to have scale thereon, comprising guide rolls spaced apart to pass said rod therebetween, bending rolls aligned with said guide rolls spaced sufficiently closely to bend said rod in at least one plane sufficiently to heat same an appreciable amount and to break off substantially all the scale thereon, a sizing device aligned with said bending rolls to reduce the diameter of and to heat said rod and spaced from said bending rolls a sufficiently short distance compared with the speed of movement of the rod to prevent any material cooling of the rod, means to draw said rod through said sizing device at a speed of at least seven hundred iifty feet per minute, and first and second pluralities of straightening rolls aligned with said sizing device to straighten said rod in two separate planes, said straightening rolls being positioned sufficiently closely to said sizing device compared with the speed of movement of said rod to prevent any material cooling of the 2. A machine for use with multi-length green metal wire or rods adapted to have scale thereon, comprising guide rolls spaced apart to pass one of said rods therebetween, a plurality of bending rolls aligned with said guide rolls spaced sufficiently closely to bend said one rod in at least one plane sufficiently to heat same an appreciable amount and to break olf substantially all the scale thereon, a sizing device aligned with said bending rolls to stretch and reduce the diameter of and to heat said one rod and spaced from said bending rolls a sufficiently short distance compared with the speed of movement of the rod to prevent any material cooling of the rod, feeding rolls disposed to engage said one rod adjacent said sizing device to exert a pull on said one rod to draw said rod at a rate at least seven hundred fifty feet per minute, a first plurality of straightening rolls in staggered relationship in a first plane on opposite sides of said one rod and mutually spaced along said one rod, a second plurality of straightening rolls in staggered relationship in a second plane on opposite sides of said one rod and mutually spaced along said one rod. and said straightening rolls being aligned with said feeding rolls and positioned sufficiently closely to said sizing device compared with the speed of movement of said one rod to prevent any material cooling of the rod.

3. A machine for use with multi-length green metal round wire or rods adapted to have scale thereon, comprising first and second horizontally disposed guide rolls vertically spaced apart to pass one of said rods therebetween, first and second vertically disposed guide rolls horizontally spaced apart to pass said one rod therebetween, frst, second and third horizontally disposed bending rolls aligned with said guide rolls and generally horizontally spaced sufiiciently closely to bend said one rod sufficiently to heat same an appreciable amount and to break off substantially all the scale thereon, brush means to brush scale off said one rod, a sizing device aligned with said bending rolls to stretch and reduce the diameter of and to heat said one rod and spaced from said bending rolls a sufiiciently short distance compared with the speed of movement of the rod to prevent any material cooling of the rod, a first pair of feeding rolls disposed on one side of said rod adjacent said sizing device, a second pair of feeding rolls disposed on the opposite side of said rod and opposite said first pair of feeding rolls, said feeding rolls being aligned with said sizing device, resilient means urging together said first and second pairs of feeding rolls, power means to rotate said feeding rolls to pull said one rod from said sizing device at a speed in excess of seven hundred fifty feet per minute, a first plurality of vertically disposed straightening rolls in staggered relationship on opposite sides of said one rod mutually spaced along said one rod a first given distance, a second plurality of vertically disposed straightening rolls in staggered relationship on opposite sides of said one rod mutually spaced along said one rod at least twice said first given distance, a first plurality of horizontally disposed straightening rolls in staggered relationshipv on opposite sides of said one rod mutually spaced along said one rod a second given distance, a second plurality of horizontally disposed straightening rolls in staggered relationship on opposite sides of said one rod mutually spaced along said one rod at least twice said second given distance, said straightening rolls being aligned with said feeding rolls and positioned sufficiently closely to said sizing device compared with the speed of movement of said one rod to prevent any material cooling of the rod, said straightening rolls straightening said one rod as a free rod as it is pushed therethrough by said feeding rolls, and a rotating critter wheel having an axially movable knife blade to cut said rod into precise lengths in timed relation with the speed of movement of said one rod.

4. The method of preparing a plurality of straightened rods of accurate length sized to a particular cross sectional area from a long green metal rod adapted to have scale thereon, comprising the steps of bending said long rod in two directions in at least a first plane sufficiently to heat said rod an appreciable amount and to break off substantially all the scale thereon and captivate same, sizing the green rod to reduce the cross sectional area thereof and to stretch and heat the rod, said sizing occurring sufficiently soon after bending to prevent any appreciable cooling of the green rod, straightenmg the rod in at least two different planes sufficiently soon after sizing to prevent any material cooling of the long'rod, applying to the long rod a tension force for the s1z1ng and bending operations, pushing the long rod through the straightening operation, and cutting the long rod into accurately determined lengths all at a rod speed of at least seven hundred fifty feet per minute.

5. A machine for continuously cutting a plurality of definite specified length and specified diameter articles from a multi-length rod, said machine comprising, a rod flexing device to appreciably heat said rod and to sufficiently remove the oxide scale from said rod, a rod sizing device to decrease the diameter of the rod to said specified diameter, and a straightening and cutting device, the straightening part of which includes a plurality of rolls with some rolls spaced apart at least twice the spacing of others of the rolls, the cutting part of which is a rotary head which cuts the continuously moving straightened and sized rod in motion to said definite specified lengths, all three devices being synchronously timed and operated at a rod speed of at least seven hundred fifty feet per minute such that the finished articles are produced continuously from the entrance of the green rod into these three devices at a high rate of speed with no handling.

6. A machine for continuously cutting a plurality of definite specified length and specified diameter articles from multi-length green metal wire or rods adapted to have scale thereupon, consisting of a flexing device with flexing rolls so mounted that the rod may be flexed in at least one plane to remove the oxide scale therefrom and to captivate the rod and remove the stubbornness therefrom and heat said rod, a sizing device to reduce the diameter of said rod to said specified diameter while still in the heated captive form, said heating in the flexing rolls making the sizing operation easier to control, a straightening and sizing device through which the rod is pushed as a free rod so that all bends and camber are removed, and a rotary cutting head to accomplish the cutting to said definite specified length thus forming the finished articles without interruption, all aforesaid devices being synchronously timed and operating on said wire or rod at a rod speed of at least seven hundred fifty feet per minute.

7. A machine for continuously cutting a plurality of definite specified length and specified diameter articles from a multi-length green rod, said machine comprising, a sizing device for decreasing the diameter of said rod by pulling the rod through said device with a plurality of rolls for flexing the rod in at least one plane such that the oxide scale is removed therefrom and the diameter of the rod is thus decreased to said specified diameter as a captive rod, and a straightening and cutting device through which the rod is pushed as a free rod thus removing all bends, kinks and camber and cutting to said definite specified lengths by a rotary cutter without interrupting the process or speed of movement of the rod, all aforesaid devices being synchronously timed and operating on said rod at a rod speed of at least seven hundred fifty feet per minute.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 293,011 Hall et al. Feb. 5, 1884 1,285,057 Cutter Nov. 19, 1918 2,126,453 Criley Aug. 9, 1938 2,234,728 Gaines Mar. 11, 1941 2,260,773 Cook Oct. 28, 1941 2,310,916 Gaines Feb. 9, 1943 2,318,432 Stainer May 4, 1943 2,327,103 Gude Aug. 17, 1943 2,347,904 Greulich May 2, 1944 2,394,381 Hoern Feb. 5, 1946 2,517,309 Heller Aug. 1, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 583,221 Great Britain Dec. 16, 1946 

